Garment supporting structure



Aug. 4, 1964 G. M. sl'rRlN GARMENT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 4, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,143,215 GARMENT SUPPORTING SIRUCTURE Gabriel M. Sitrin, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Carrick Products Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Aug. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 129,344 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-105.1)

This invention relates to improved means for supporting Wire garment hangers and particularly concerns improved sheet metal construction of a supporting bar for the hangers, and improved sheet metal mounting means for mounting the bar on garment containers and for strengthening and rigidifying the bar. Such improved bar and mounting means finds utility in supporting the hangers with garments suspended thereon within a garment carton or container adjacent the top portion of the container.

It is common practice to ship groups of garments in a single upright containcr or carton by suspending them from conventional Wire-type clothes hangers, the hooked ends of which are hung over a supporting member or bar mounded in the carton adjacent the top opening or end portion thereof. It often occurs during shipment of these cartons that the hooked ends of the Wire hangers become deformed under the weight and Vertical vibrations of the garments suspended thereon and tend to become straightened out and consequently disengaged from the supporting bar. Moreover, these cartons are often filled to capacity with garments, and if the bar becomes eX- cessively fiexed under the weight of the garments hanging thereon it may itself collapse and result in a pulling in or collapsing of the sides of the carton to which the ends of the bar are attached.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a garment hanger supporting bar which is inexpensive to produce, very rigid, and is provided with means to inhibit deformation of the hooked portions of the hangers and consequent slipping thereof from the bar.

It is another object to provide improved bar mounting means on the ends of said bar for imparting additional rigidity thereto while also providing means for removably mountng the bar at its ends on opposite sides of the carton.

A further object is to provide a garment hanger support bar which can be readily made from a single piece of sheet metal material by successive and plural bending Operations which gives to the bar a plurality of longitudinally extending angularly related portions serving as rigidifying means for the bar.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 represents an isometric view of the supporting bar and mounting plates in disassembled array;

FIGURE 2 represents a top elevational view of the assembled mounting plates and support bar of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 represents a side view of the assembly of FIGURE 2 mounted on opposite sides of a paperboard or cardboard carton;

FIGURE 4 represents an end view of the hanger supporting structure of FIGURE 3 taken in the direction of the arrow 4;

FIGURE 5 represents an enlarged cross-sectional view of the left-hand mounting plate of FIGURE 1 taken along the line 5-5 thereof in the direction of the arrow and showing the cross-sectional shape of one of the welding projections; and

FIGURE 6 represents an end view of the beam of FIG` 3,143,215 Patented Aug. 4, 1964 ICC URE 1 showing a clothes hanger hook thereon in its unloaded and loaded conditions.

Referring to the drawings, a Wire clothes hanger support bar on beam 19 is shown as .comprising a single piece of sheet metal which is formed into the configuration shown by a plurality of bending Operations. Portions of the bent sheet may be connected at spaced points 12 by Welding or riveting or the like to rigidify the metal piece and hold it in its configuration for subsequent assembly operations described below.

Bar 16 is comprised of a plurality of longitudinally eX- tending portions such as 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 3d, which are an integral part of the single sheet metal piece and are angularly disposed with respect to each other. The angular relationship imparts ridigity and strength to the bar and eifectively prevents it from excessively fiexing in any direction, and particularly in a downward direction under the infiuence of the weight of the garments suspended therefrom.

The angular relationship between these longitudinally extending portions of the bar is such that tubular-shaped portions 32 and 34 are formed thereby and have their greatest cross-sectional dimension or axis in a generally Vertical direction which substantially coincides with the direction of force on the bar resulting from the Weight of the suspended clothing. This construction of tubular portions 32 and 34, therefore, provides improved rigidity in a Vertical direction while the longitudinal ridge portions 20 and 28 provide rigidity in a lateral direction. The lateral rigidity becomes especially significant when the loaded clothing cartons are tipped over or otherwise subjected to lateral forces. Bar 10 is further provided With a plurality of stops 36 which are punched up from portions 20 and 28 and prevent excessive sliding motion of the clothing hangers longitudnally along the bar, particularly when the caron is only partally filled with clothing and hangers. These stops as shown in FIGURE 3 are positioned below the top of the carton so as not to interfere with the .closing thereof. Stops 36 being formed from the two portions of the sheet metal are, consequently, sufliciently strong for their purpose, whereas a single thickness of the sheet metal would not be as satisfactory. It is particularly noted that the cross-sectional configuration of the bar and its resulting strength is such that the bar may be readily and economically made from a single piece of relatively light gauge and inexpensive sheet metal in a high speed bending operation from a coil of sheet metal stock which is cut to proper size by means such as a fiying shear.

The hook portion 38 of a wire clothes hanger generally indicated 40, is shown in FIGURES 1 and 6 engaging the longitudinally extending Corners of ridge portion 28 of the bar with its free end 42 positioned in the longitudinally extending channel portion 44 formed by portions 14 and 16. Referring to FIGURE 6, it is seen that as garments are suspended on the Wire hanger, the hook portion 38 thereof begins to deform and the end portion 42 defiects outwardly in a counterclockwise motion. When this deformation occurs, however, the free end 42 will engage the inside of lip or fiange 14 and will be inhibited from further, defiection, and straightening out of the hook portion 38 will likewise be inhibited.

The shape and construction of bar 10 is such that the channel 44 may extend the full length of the bar unenculnbered by any supporting or dividing wall portions. It is further noted that flange 14 is outwardly fiared at 46 to provide a lead-in or guide into channel 14 for the hanger ends 42. This construction of channel 44 allows the hanger hooks to be readily positioned on the bar 10 with their ends 42 in channel 44, particularly under conditions where the bar is not readily observable such as in a poorly lighted room or truck, or when the bar is crowded with hangers.

Each Vof a pair of end mounting plates 48 and 50 for mounting bar 10 on a container are of identical but reversed or mirror image construction, are formed from Sheet metal and are provided with inverted U-shaped fianges 52 and 54, respectively. AS shown in FIGURE 3, these fianges are adapted to nest over the supporting edge portions 56 and 58, respectively, of top portions of opposite sides 60 and 62 of a paperboard or other type of clothing carton generally indicated 64. Carton 64 may be of single or multiple paperboard and may vary in its structural details from that shown in FIGURE 3, which showing is merely intended to illustrate generally the manner in which the bar and end mounting plates are used. With the above in mind, carton 64 may further comprise foldable fiaps 66, 68, 79 and another fiap oppositely disposed to fiap 70 but not shown. The carton is provided in the customary manner with grooves 72 at the boundary of the sides and flaps which facilitate proper folding of the fiaps. In order to provide the supporting edges 56 and 58 for the mounting plates 48 and 50, fiaps 74 and 76, respectively, may be cut from the adjacent side and fiap pairs 60, 66, and 62, 68, approximately midway between the adjacent sides and folded down on the inside of sides 60 and 62 as shown. The fianges 52 and 54 of the mounting plates, as shown in FIGURE 3, are slightly flared outwardly to faciltate the nesting thereof over the edges 56 and 58. After these mounting plates with the bar 10 connected thereto, in a manner hereinafter described, are properly positioned over edges 56 and SS, the apertures 78 and 80 left in the flaps and sides after bending down flaps '74 and 76 may be covered over in any suitable manner such as by an adhesive paper tape.

Mounting plates 48 and 50 are provided With a plurality of elongated weld projections 82 which may conveniently be formed by a press forming operation and extend inwardly toward the ends of the bar 10 and abut the angularly disposed ends of the aforesaid longitudinally extending portions of the bar at various points designated S4 and are welded thereto at these points. AS shown in FIGURES 1 and 5, projections 82 are of a Slightly elongatedshape and have a substantially V-shaped cross-Section. These projections are preferably so positioned on the mounting plates that the major axis or ridge portions S6 thereof are directed across or transversely of the ends of said longitudinally extending portions to provide high pressure contact with said ends for insuring a good weld. The welding operation may be carried out by supporting the mounting plates on welding electrodes such as is shown at 88 in FIGURE and which are shaped to provide good electrical contact with the outside surfaces 90 of each of the mounting plates. With each of the mounting plates so supported, the electrodes may Simultaneously be moved to bring the plates into welding contact with the bar which may be supported in a fixture in a properly oriented manner relative to the mounting plates so that the projections 82 properly engage the ends of the lonvitudinally extending portions of the bar. It is readily seen that by welding the mounting plates to the bar at points 84, the spacing and angular disposition of the aforesaid longitudinally extending positions of the bar 10 relative to one another is fixed which irnparts additional rigidity to the bar.

In order to assist in properly positioning the mounting plates 48 and 50 against the ends of the bar 10 and also to assist in supporting the bar 10 on these plates, a pair of arcuate Shoulders 91 and 92 are formed on each of the plates and receive the arcuate bottom portions 94 and 96, respectively, of the bar 10. Shoulders 91 and 92 may conveniently be formed on each mounting plate by` simultaneously punchng out aperture 98 and bending over peripheral border portions of said aperture to form the Shoulders. Simultaneously with the formation of aperture 98, the welding projections 82 may be formed.

While it will be apparent that the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects of the invention, it will be `appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, Variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A clothes hanger support comprising: lan elongated one-piece member including an upper downwardly-open channel portion defining a clothes hanger hook Supporting ridge, a lower downwardly-open channel portion formed with and parallel to said upper channel portion, said channel portions being disposed one above the other with the upper ridge portions of each secured to one another, stop means projecting upwardly from said clothes hanger hook supporting ridge to limit longitudinal movement of said hangers on said supporting ridge, 'and a continuous imperforate flange portion extending upwardly and outwardly from the lower edge of one ofV said channel portions for engaging the end portions of clothes hanger hoolis to prevent excessive deformation thereof under conditions of excessive Stress thereon; and support means mounted on each end of Said member for engaging portions of a container and supponting said member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stop means includes tabs bent upwardly from the upper ridge portions of each of said channel portions.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, Wherein said flange portion extends outwardly and upwardly from the lower edge of said lower channel portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 221439215 August. 4,, 1964 Gabriel M Sitrin It is hereby Certified that error appears in the above number-ed patent req'iiring oorrection and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column lv line 68TI for "left-hand" read left-handedcolumn 2iz line llq for "on" read or line 15`l for "The^"' read This line 62 after "urther" strike out the comma; same column 2,, line 6h for "14" read 44 Signed and sealed this 24th day of November 1964.,

SEAL) test:

NEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER esting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A CLOTHES HANGER SUPPORT COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED ONE-PIECE MEMBER INCLUDING AN UPPER DOWNWARDLY-OPEN CHANNEL PORTION DEFINING A CLOTHES HANGER HOOK SUPPORTING RIDGE, A LOWER DOWNWARDLY-OPEN CHANNEL PORTION FORMED WITH AND PARALLEL TO SAID UPPER CHANNEL PORTION, SAID CHANNEL PORTIONS BEING DISPOSED ONE ABOVE THE OTHER WITH THE UPPER RIDGE PORTIONS OF EACH SECURED TO ONE ANOTHER, STOP MEANS PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM SAID CLOTHES HANGER HOOK SUPPORTING RIDGE TO LIMIT LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID HANGERS ON SAID SUPPORTING RIDGE, AND A CONTINUOUS IMPERFORATE FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM THE LOWER EDGE OF ONE OF SAID CHANNEL PORTIONS FOR ENGAGING THE END PORTIONS OF CLOTHES HANGER HOOKS TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE DEFORMATION THEREOF UNDER CONDITIONS OF EXCESSIVE STRESS THEREON; AND SUPPORT MEANS MOUNTED ON EACH END OF SAID MEMBER FOR ENGAGING PORTIONS OF A CONTAINER AND SUPPORTING SAID MEMBER. 